Machine gun and attachment therefor



Nov. 17, 1936. F. T. MOORE MACHINE GUN AND ATTACHMENT THEREFOR Original Filed Oct. 19, 1952 r U m m Frederick TMU are l I I l I l I l M l I l I l IL UNITED STATES PATENT-' OFF I CE MACHINE GUN AND ATTACHIVIENT" THEREFOR.

Frederick T. Moore, WesVHait'tford, Conn; -as--' signor to Colts Patentxl ire ArmsManufacturing Hartford, Conm, a corporation 'of Connecticut Original application October '19, 1932, Serial No. 638,632. Divide'dand this applica'tiomMarch 1, 1933, Serial No.i659,140.. Renewed June 24,

27 Claims.

The invention relates particularly to an aircooledmachine gun having a readily detachable barrel. Sucha machine gun has the advantage that the barrel may be conveniently removed to facilitatetransportation, and it has the further advantage that the barrel, upon becoming heated during use, maybe easily taken out and replaced by another similar barrel with a minimum los's of time;

Oneobject of the invention is to provide a machine gun of the class referred "to and an attachment therefor, which attachment is adapted to be used for rotating the barrel to screw it into or out of engagement with the barrel extension and is also adapted to carry the barrel when detached from the gun. In accordance with the invention longitudinal ribs on the barrel are engaged by the attachment in order that the barrel may be readily rotated.-

Still other objects of the invention will be apparent from the following specification and claims;

This present application is a division of my copending' application for Machine gun and attachment therefor, Serial No. 638,632 filed October 19, 1932.

In the accompanying drawing I have shown the embodiment of the invention which I now deem preferable, but it will be understood that the drawing is intended for illustrative purposes only and is not to be construed as defining or limiting the scope of the invention, the claims forming a part of this specification being relied upon for that purpose.

* 0f the drawing:

Fig. 1 is afragmentary side .view showing the front portion of a machine gun embodying my invention.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary viewpartly in section along the 'line 2-2 of Fig.1 and showing parts of the barrel, barrel extension and breech bolt.

Figs. 3 and 4 are detail views of the barrel engaging latch.

8--8 of Fig. 6 and showing the parts of the carrier in their normal operative position.

Figxfi is an enlarged view of the carrier, the parts'being in thesame'position as in Fig. '7.

FigiLl'O "is a fragmentary front view of the carrier, this view being partly in section along the 1ine-l:lll0 of Fig. 9.

While not so limited, the invention is well adaptedifor' use with a machine gun of the type disclosed 'in the Browning patent No. 1,293,021 dated February 4, 1919'. Reference may be had to the said-patent fordetails of mechanism not herein fully disclosed.

Referringparticularly to Fig. 1 of the drawing, I represents theibreech casing of the gun and 2 the trunnionblock constituting the forward end of the'casing. The breech casing is provided with a cover 3' hinged at 4 to the trunnion block. At 5 there" is provided an opening for the admission of a cartridge belt to the feeding and firing'imechanisms which are not shown.

The 'barrel of the gun is represented at 6 and the"barrel-":extension ds represented at 1. The barrel tand barrel extension -move rearward upon recoil andare returned to their forward positionsdoy themechanism of the gun following recoil movement. Connected with the barrel extension 1' is abreech bolt 8 which is locked to the barrelrextension at the instant of firing and which is released during recoil so as to move rearward separateiyifrom the barrel and barrel extension. Figi'2. shows the breech bolt in its locked position.

As already stated the gun is preferably air cooled. In order to provide a relatively large body-of metal forthe absorption of heat the barrel is made relatively heavy, and in order that the heat'may be rapidly dissipated, the barrel may be provided with plurality of cooling ribs. As shown there is a series of circumferentially extending ribsiB; 9 on .the front-portion of the barrel and a series of similar ribs l0, ID on the rear portion of the'barrel. .Between the said ribs 9, 9 and ID, ID the barrel may be enlarged, and the enlarged portion may be provided witha series of circumferentially extending ribs H, H and a series of longitudinallyrextending ribs l2, l2.

For supporting and guiding the barrel there is provided a barrel guide in the form of a sleeve I3 projeetingrforward from the casing. Preferably the trunnion block 2 is provided with a forward projecting threaded fiange l4 and the sleeve I3 is provided with internal threads adapted to be screwed ontothe threadedflange M. The guide or sleeve I3 is provided adjacent its forward end. with aninterior cylindrical bearing surface l and the before-mentioned longitudinally extending ribslZ are so positioned and are of such size that their outer surfaces engage the said bearing surface 5. The sleeve ,I3 is provided with a plurality of openings l6, l6 which permit air to freely circulate through the interior of the sleeve and to contact with the barrel and particularly the cooling ribs Ill and i l thereof. By reason of the construction described the sleeve 13 serves to guide and support the barrel without, however, seriously reducing the cooling effect of the several series of ribs on the barrel. The ribs l2, [2 are partly exposed when the barrel is in its normal forward position and even when the barrel moves rearward there is still opportunity for air to circulate through the spaces or grooves between the ribs l2. Inasmuch as theribs l2, l2v

extend longitudinally wear on the bearing surface i5 is reduced toa minimum.

The barrel 6 may be put in place or removed from the front without disturbing any other parts of the gun. To this end the barrel has a screw threaded engagement with the barrel extension 1. The extension has a threadedbarrel receiving opening and the barrel has threads" I! at its rear portion adapting it to be screwed into the opening in the extension. In order. that the barrel may be firmly held in place, it is enlarged adjacent the threads and is provided with an annular or peripheral series of notches l8, l8. There is provided a latch l9, I9 adapted to enter any one of the notches l8, l8 to thus hold the barrel in its adjusted position. Preferably'the notches i8. 18 are V-shaped and they latch 19 is spring-pressed and is radially movable so as @to automatically move into and out of the notches I8, 18 successively as the barrel is rotated.

The latch I9 is preferably in the form ofa tooth at the forward end of a spring member 20. This spring member is seated in a longitudinal slot 2! formed in one side of the barrel extension l. The rear portion of this slot is shaped to' fit and hold the rear portion'of the spring 28, leav-' ing the forward portion free to flex so that the tooth or latch l9may enter the notches [8, I8 as described. Preferably the front portion of the latch and the rearward facing shoulder of the barrel adjacent the notches are relatively beveled so that the latch is forced laterally when first engaged by the barrel.

As clearly shown in Fig. 2 the construction is such that the barrel can be moved rearward so that its rear face engages the breech bolt at'8 the shoulder'on the barrel remaining out of'engagement with the barrel extension. In'this way it is possible to readily obtain theproper relationship between the barrel and the bolt. 'It will be obvious that if'the adjusted position of the barrel were determined otherwise, as for instance by a seating of the barrel directly upon the ba'r rel extension, any inaccuracies in the parts 'resulting from errors ofmanufacture'or'resulting from wear, would cause an improper relationship between the barrel and the breech bolt, thusleaving an abnormally large space into which the head of the cartridge would be expanded during firing; or the barrel and breech bolt might be too firmly engagedso as to interfere with the free action of thelo'ck for thebolt. The barrel may be left in engagement withthe breech bolt as described. V

From the foregoingdescription it will be apparent that the barrel may be connected with or detached from the barrel extension by simply screwing it into or out of position. When the movement.

barrel is being attached it is turned until the rear portion thereof engages the breech bolt 8. As already stated the latch I9 successively enters the notches l8, l8 and when the final position of the barrel is reached the tooth l 9 remains in one of the notches to hold the barrel against further While the barrel is effectively held by the tooth 19 the resilient mounting of the tooth and the inclined or beveled faces of the notches permit the barrel to be unscrewed and removed at any time without any attention to the latch.

To facilitate the turning or rotating of the barrel to screw it into or out of place and preferably to also facilitate the handling or carrying of the barrel I provide the attachment which will now be described. The attachment preferably comprises a handle 22 which is adapted to be effectively connected with the barrel and which also comprises a finger or latch 23 adapted to engage the barrel in such a way that the handle may be used for turning the barrel. When it is desired to remove the barrel, as for instance at the conclusion of firing, the attachment may be utilized as a means for turning the barrel to unscrew it, thus enabling the operator to avoid direct contact with the barrel itself which may be very hot. When the barrel has been turned sufiiciently to completely disengage it from the barrel extension the attachment may be utilized for carrying the barrel, it being then in the position shown in Fig. 6.

The carrying and rotating attachment referred to may be variously constructed as to mechanical details, but I prefer the construction which will now be described. A sleeve 24 is provided which surrounds the front portion of the barrel and is adapted to be positioned adjacent and. at the front of the before-mentioned enlarged portion of the barrel. This sleeve is preferably provided with numerous openings so as to facilitate air cooling. Carried by the sleeve 26 is a hollow extension or rib in which is mounted the before-mentioned finger or latch 23. This latch 23 is longitudinally movable and is pressed rearward by means of a spring 26. It may be manually moved forward by means of a knob 2'! secured to its forward end. The latch 23 is adapted to enter a notch or groove in the barrel, which notch or groove has longitudinally extending walls. When there is an enlarged portion of the barrel comprising an annular series of longitudinal ribs such as I2, I 2, the said latch 23 is preferably so formed and positioned that it can enter any one of the grooves between the said ribs and engage the longitudinally extending walls of the groove so entered.

Cooperating with the sleeve 24 is at least one element 23 adapted to enter an annular groove in the barrel so as to hold the sleeve and, in fact, the entire attachment against endwise movement. Pref-erably there are two such elements 28, 23 positioned at opposite ends of the sleeve and adapted to enter two separate grooves. When the barrel is provided with a longitudinal series of circumferential cooling ribs such as 9, 9, the elements 28, 28 may enter two of the grooves formed between the several ribs 9, 9. Preferably the two elements 28, 28 are made of resilient wires which are looped to surround the finger or latch 23 to provide a pivotal mounting. The wire or wires constituting the elements 28, 28 are intended as shown at 28 28 to provide the required connection between the handle 22 and the sleeve 24. Assh'own the handle is in i the form are tube an'd th'e ends of thewires extend into the tube.

may be formed 'of Ia single piece of wire which extends entirely through the handle 22. It will be observed that with' the construction' shown and described theTwei'ght of the barrel is carried in part by thesleeve24 and in part by the two elements 28, 28.

l The carrying andrrotatingattachment' is preferably readily attachable to and detachable from the barrel. When the'attachmentis to be put in place on the-barre1 the handle '22 and the barrel engaging elements '28-are swung to the rela- "tive positionsshown in Fig. 7, thus' making it possible for the attachment to be freely slipped into place on the barrel;- Whenthe sleeve has reached its proper position the handle can then .SlIGd. This permits'theattachment to be pushed forward-and detached from the barrel.

The attachment canbe'turned on the barrel to bring it into a convenient position. To turn the attachment it is necessary to first withdraw the latch 23, and after adjustment the latch is permitted to enter =another groove between the ribs If desired the attachment may be left in place on the barrel 'duri'ng'use of the gun and it is preferably maintained at the bottom as shown in Fig. 1 so as not to interfere with the line of sight. When the barrel is to be removed the attachment is used as the means for turning the barrel to unscrew it. When the barrel is completely disconnected the attachment member can then be used to carry the barrel, the said attachment being then at the top' as shown in Fig. 6. If a "new barrel is to be put in place the attachment can be'removed and connected with the new barrel, but it will ordinarily be found preferable to have a separate attachment for each barrel so as to avoid the loss of time which would be incident to transferring the attachment from one barrel to the other.

. What I claim is:

1. For an automatic machine gun comprising a main casing and a forward projecting barrel adapted to be attached or detached by rotative movement and having an enlarged portion with at least one longitudinal groove therein, the 'combination of a handle adapted to be rotatably con- .nected with the barrel adjacent the said enlarged portion thereof, and a latch longitudinally movable under manual control relatively to the handle into the groove in the barrel to enable the machine gun including a main casing and a for ward projecting readily detachable barrel having therein at least two longitudinally spaced cir-- cumferential grooves, the said barrel carrier comprising in combination, a handle, and at least two circumferentially extending barrel engaging elements adapted to be positioned in the said grooves in the barrel, the said barrel engaging elements being movable relative to the barrel to permit disengagement therefrom.

4. A barrel carrier for use with an automatic machine gun including a main casing and a forward projecting readily detachable barrel having therein a plurality of longitudinally spaced circumferential grooves, the said barrel carrier comprising in combination, a handle, and a plurality of resilient circumferentially extending barrel engaging elements adapted to be snapped into or out of the said grooves in the barrel.

5. A barrel carrier for use with an automatic machine gun including a main casing and a forward projecting readily detachable barrel, the said barrel carrier comprising in combination, a barrel supporting sleeve, a handle movabl'y connected with the sleeve, and at least one barrel engaging element movable with the handle relatively to the sleeve and adapted to releasably engage the barrel to prevent longitudinal movement' of the sleeve.

6. A barrel carrier for use with an automatic machine gun including a main casing and aforward projecting readily detachable barrel hav-' ing therein at least two longitudinally spaced circumferential grooves, the said barrel carrier comprising in combination, a barrel supporting sleeve, a handle connected with the sleeve for movement about a longitudinal axis. and two resilient barrel engaging elements movable with the handle relatively to the sleeve and adapted to be snap ed into or out of the said grooves in the barrel.

7. For use with an automatic machine gun comprising a main casing and a forward projecting barrel adapted to be attached or detached by rotative movement, the combination of a handle, a barrel supporting means connected with the handle, a latch manually movable relatively to the handle into and out of engagement with the barrel, and means on the barrel cooperating with the latch to enable the handle to also serve as a means for rotating the barrel.

8. For use with an automatic machine gun comprising a main casing and a forward projecting barrel adapted to be attached or detached by r0- tative movement and having an enlarged portion comprising longitudinal cooling ribs with longitudinal grooves between them, the combination of a handle, a barrel supporting means connected with the handle and adapted to engage the barrel adjacent the said enlarged portion, and a finger connected with the handle and supporting means and adapted to project into one of the grooves in the barrel to enable the handle to also serve as a means for rotating the barrel.

9. For use with an automatic machine gun comprising a main casing and a forward projecting barrel adapted to be attached or detached by rotative movement and having an enlarged portion with longitudinal notches therein, the combination of a handle, a barrel supporting means connected with the handle and adapted to engage the barrel adjacent the said enlarged portion, and a latch movable under manual control longitudinally relatively to the handle into any one 'of the notches in the barrel to enable the handle to also serve as a means for rotating the barrel.

10. For use with an automatic machine gun comprising a main casing and a forward projecting barrel adapted to be attached or detached by rotative movement and having an enlarged portion with longitudinal notches therein, the combination of a handle, a barrel supporting sleeve connected with the handle, means for preventing endwise movement of the sleeve relatively to the barrel, and a latch movable under manual control longitudinally relatively to the sleeve into any one of the notches in the barrel to enable the handle to also serve as a means for rotating the barrel.

11. For use with an automatic machine gun comprising a main casing and a forward projecting barrel adapted to be attached or detached by rotative movement and having an enlarged portion with longitudinal notches therein and an ad- J'acent portion with circumferential grooves therein, the combination of a handle, a barrel supporting sleeve connected with the handle, a latch pin movable under manual control longitudinally relatively to the sleeve into any one of the notchesv in the barrel to enable the handle to also serve as a means for rotating the barrel, and two elements pivoted on the latch pin at opposite ends: of the sleeve and adapted to be positioned in the circumferential grooves of the barrel to prevent. endwise movement of the sleeve and handle.

12. For use with an automatic machine gun comprising a main casing and a forward projecting barrel adapted to be attached or detached by rotative movement and having an enlarged portion with longitudinal notches therein and an adjacent portion with circumferential grooves there-- in, the combination of a barrel supporting sleeve, a latch pin movable under manual control longitudinally relatively to the sleeve into any oneof the notches in the barrel, two elements pivoted on the latch pin at opposite ends of the sleeve and adapted to be positioned in the circumferential grooves of the barrel to prevent endwise movement of the sleeve, and a handle connected with the said pivoted elements and adapted to be used either to carry the barrel or to rotate it.

13. For an automatic machine gun, an assembly comprising in combination a barrel readily attachable to or detachable from the gun by a rotative movement and having a portion between its ends with at least one notch therein having longitudinal walls, a handle rotatably connected with the barrel adjacent the said notched portion thereof, and a latch movable under manual control relatively to the handle into the notch in the barrel to enable the handle to serve as a means for rotating the barrel. 14. For an automatic machine gun, an assembly comprising in combination a barrel readily attachable to or detachable from the gun by a rotative movement and having a portion between its ends with a circumferential series of notches therein, each of the said notches in the barrel having longitudinal walls, a handle rotatably connected with the barrel adjacent the said notched portion thereof, and a latch movable under manual control relatively to the handle into any one of the notches in the barrel to enable the handle to serve as a means for rotating the barrel.

15. For an automatic machine gun, an assembly comprising in combination a barrel readily attachable to or detachable from the gun by a I'OllEtllli'B movement and having an enlarged portion between its ends with at least one longitudinal notch therein, a handle rotatably connected with the barrel adjacent the said notched portion thereof, and a latch longitudinally movable under manual control relatively to the hanldle into the notch in the barrel to enable the handle to serve as a means for rotating the barrel.

16. For an automatic machine gun, an assembly comprising in combination a barrel readily attachable to or detachable from the gun by a :rotative movement and having between its ends .a circumferential series of longitudinally extending cooling ribs with longitudinal grooves between them, a handle rotatably connected with the barrel adjacent the said ribs, and a latch longitudinally movable under manual control relatively to the handle into any one of the grooves in the barrel to enable the handle to serve as a :means for rotating the barrel.

1?. For a machine gun, an assembly comprising in combination, a barrel readily attachable to and detachable from the gun and having therein a plurality of longitudinally spaced circumferential grooves, a handle, and a plurality of circumferentially extending barrel engaging elements connected with the handle and positioned in the said grooves.

18. For a machine gun, an assembly comprising in combination, a barrel readily attachable to and detachable from the gun and having thereon a plurality of cooling ribs, the said ribs being uniformly spaced longitudinally throughout a substantial portion of the length of the barrel and having circumferential grooves between them, a handle, and at least two barrel engaging elements connected with the handle and positioned in two of the said circumferential grooves.

19. For a machine gun, an assembly comprising in combination, a barrel readily attachable to and detachable from the gun, a sleeve surrounding the barrel, a handle connected with the sleeve for movement about a longitudinal axis, and an element movable with the handle relatively to the sleeve and releasably engaging the barrel to prevent longitudinal movement of the sleeve.

20. For a machine gun, an assembly comprising in combination a barrel adapted to be attached or detached by rotative movement and having an enlarged portion with longitudinal grooves therein, a barrel supporting sleeve, a handle connected with the sleeve, an element releasably engaging the barrel to prevent longitudinal movement of the sleeve, and a longitudinally movable latch connected with the sleeve and entering one of the grooves in the barrel to enable the handle to serve as a means for rotating the barrel.

21. In an automatic machine gun, the combination of a main casing, a forward projecting barrel guide having adjacent its forward end an interior cylindrical bearing surface, a barrel extension longitudinally reciprocable in the casing and having a front barrel receiving opening, a longitudinally reciprocable barrel adapted at the rear to enter the opening in the extension and having means adapted upon rotation to engage the barrel extension to prevent longitudinal movement of the barrel relative to the extension, the said barrel having an enlarged portion provided with longitudinal notches and so positioned that the outer surface of the said portion engages the said bearing surface of the guide, and a barrel rotating means connected to the barrel at the front of the said ribs and including a finger projecting rearward into one of the longitudinal notches.

22. In an automatic machine gun, the combination of a main casing, a forward projecting barrel guide having adjacent its forward end an interior cylindrical bearing surface, a barrel extension longitudinally reciprocable in the casing and having a front barrel receiving opening, a longitudinally reciprocable barrel adapted at the rear to enter the opening in the extension and having means adapted upon rotation to engage the barrel extension to prevent relative longitudinal movement, the said barrel having a circumferential series of longitudinally extending cooling ribs thereon so positioned that their outer surfaces engage the said bearing surface of the guide, and a barrel rotating means connected to the barrel at the front of the said ribs and including a finger projecting rearward into the space between two of the ribs.

23. In an automatic machine gun, the combination of a main casing, a forward projecting barrel guide, a barrel extension longitudinally reciprocable in the casing and having a front barrel receiving opening, a longitudinally reciprocable barrel guided by the front portion of the barrel guide and adapted at the rear to enter the opening in the extension, the said barrel having means at the rear adapted upon rotation to engage the said barrel extension to prevent relative longitudinal movement and having therein between its ends a circumferential series of longitudinally extending notches, and a barrel rotating means connected to the barrel at the front of the said notches and independently rotatable about the barrel axis, the said means including a rearward projecting finger adapted to be entered into any one of the said notches.

24. In an automatic machine gun, the combination of a main casing, a forward projecting barrel guide having adjacent its forward end an interior cylindrical bearing surface, a barrel extension longitudinally reciprocable in the casing and having a threaded barrel receiving opening, a longitudinally reciprocable barrel having threads at its rear portion adapting it to be screwed into the opening in the extension, the said barrel having a circumferential series of longitudinally extending ribs thereon so positioned that their outer surfaces engage the said bearing surface of the guide, and a barrel rotating means connected to the barrel at the front of the said ribs and independently rotatable about the barrel axis, the said means including a rearward projecting latch manually movable longitudinally and adapted to be entered into any one of the spaces between the several ribs.

25. An automatic machine gun comprising in combination, a main casing, a forward projecting barrel guide having adjacent its forward end an interior cylindrical bearing surface, a barrel extension longitudinally reciprocable in the casing and having a front barrel receiving opening, a longitudinally reciprocable barrel adapted at the rear to enter the opening in the extension and having an exterior bearing surface adapted to engage the interior bearing surface of the guide, the said barrel being readily attachable to and detachable from the gun at the front thereof and having means at the rear adapted upon rotation to engage the barrel extension to prevent longitudinal movement of the barrel relative to the extension and the said barrel also having a circumferential series of notches therein, a barrel carrying and rotating handle, means connecting the handle with the barrel adjacent the notches and permitting rotation of the handle relative to the barrel, and a movable latch connected with the handle and adapted to enter any one of the said notches.

26. An automatic machine gun comprising in combination, a main casing, a forward projecting barrel guide having adjacent its forward end an interior cylindrical bearing surface, a barrel extension longitudinally reciprocable in the casing and having a front barrel receiving opening, a longitudinally reciprocable barrel adapted at the rear to enter the opening in the extension, the said barrel being readily attachable to and detachable from the gun at the front thereof and having means at the rear adapted upon rotation to engage the barrel extension to prevent relative longitudinal movement and the said barrel also having a circumferential series of longitudinally extending ribs thereon so positioned that their outer surfaces engage the said bearing surface of the guide, a supporting sleeve surrounding the barrel at the front of the said ribs, a barrel carrying and rotating handle connected with the sleeve, and a longitudinally movable latch connected with the sleeve and adapted to enter the space between two of the longitudinal ribs.

27. An automatic machine gun comprising in combination, a main casing, a forward projecting barrel guide having adjacent its forward end an interior cylindrical bearing surface, a barrel extension longitudinally reciprocable in the casing and having a threaded barrel receiving opening, a longitudinally reciprocable barrel having threads at its rear portion adapting it to be screwed into the opening in the extension, the said barrel being readily attachable to and detachable from the gun at the front thereof and the said barrel having a circumferential series of longitudinally extending ribs thereon so positioned that their outer surfaces engage the said bearing surface of the guide and also having circumferential ribs in front of the longitudinal ribs, a supporting sleeve surrounding the barrel at the front of the said ribs, a longitudinally movable latch pin connected with the sleeve and adapted to enter the space between two of the longitudinal ribs, two elements pivoted on the latch pin at opposite ends of the sleeve and adapted to be positioned in grooves between the said circumferential ribs to prevent endwise movement of the sleeve, and a handle connected with the said pivoted elements and adapted to be used either to carry the barrel or to rotate it.

FREDERICK T. MOORE. 

